Job Discussion Forums

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

I have been recently contacted by LanguageCalls Ltd (Hong Kong) that is a company that teaches online. Has anybody workd for them? Anything to be cautious about? They have just asked about my availability, nothing certain, but I have already been warned by my aunt (who often has business with China), so I want to double-check.

11:59 · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject:

I can't foresee all too many Hong Kongers being too overly enthusiastic about being taught English by a Lithuanian.

kowlooner · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 230 Location: HK, BCC (former)

... or by pretentious Brits Smile

11:59 · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject:

And even less by failed Brits such as Canadians.

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

Well, the truth is that they want Lithuanian lessons. I am a native speaker for once! I wish I could see 11:59 face right now! Laughing

And I don't 'want' to teach online, they contacted me with this offer in the first place. So I'm trying to get some background info on the company and not on how some 11:59 is doing in Hong Kong.

11:59 · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject:

Oh, I see! They have used the old 'We need someone to teach Lithuanian' trick, have they?

kowlooner · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 230 Location: HK, BCC (former)

Well said, Kootvela!

I was actually going to ask what had happened to 59's initial "Oh, the fury of failed Brits!" response, as it was deleted pretty quickly. Anyway, any Canucks out there want to respond to the revised "and even less by failed Brits such as Canadians"?

I was also going to comment that I wasn't sure that you "wanted" to teach online, just that you'd been contacted by an online outfit, leading to a simple question of whether anyone here has worked for or knows anything negative about them. Unfortunately, I can't help you with those questions, but perhaps someone else will read the post and answer appropriately. Best of luck.

11:59 · Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject:

Is that 'appropriate' as in suggesting posters are unaware of time zone differences between the US and HK?

kowlooner · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 230 Location: HK, BCC (former)

Oh, good comeback, 59! Ouch!

Don't think that particular person ever responded to the time-zone observation though. Might have been calling a little bit early, might have been calling a little bit late, might have been calling during those frequent noodles-in-soup periods ... But that was a different post and different topic.

And you revised your post yet again? Taking out the part about you being employed by a uni? But surely that was appropriate to the OP's question? Actually, more appropriate to the OP's response to your response. Yeah, I can see why you might want to edit that out. Wink

ChrisRose · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 427 Location: Hong Kong

WARNING

They are not in HK.

Notice there sites has a HK postal address, but no phone number. No HK web page. They are operating out of China.

ChrisRose · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 427 Location: Hong Kong

I just searched the address, most likely a mail box for rent.

So what you have is an offer from people you don't know, in mainland China, whom you will most likely never meet.

Hence little to zero recourse if/when you get screwed over.

I hope this helps Rolling Eyes

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

This is the website I found:
http://www.englishcalls.com/index.php
and in Contacts they give their phone number.
Contacts here http://www.englishcalls.com/modules/languagecalls/languagecalls.php?action=contact_us

Has anyone taught online anyway? What's it like?

11:59 · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:17 am Post subject:

Yes, I am sure Chris found those two web pages, but as he points out, they only give telephone numbers for their Mainland China addresses. Their 'HK address' does not have a phone number, which is most odd for the place (usually businesses in HK are more than keen to, well, do business).

Also, as Chris tries to tell you, the 'address' they give in HK is notorious for 'PO Box Businesses'. Do not be fooled by the "244-248 Des Voeux Road" segment of their address. Most if not all commercial buildings in HK have a 'block' address and the vast majority of buildings in that district create incredible revenue through the sale and leasing of PO Boxes.

People are trying to help you, Kootvela, but it seems you are hell-bent on only accepting that which you want to hear (viz., good news).

Captain Yossarian · Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 385 Location: Dongbei

I don't know too much about this company www.meephone.com, but they've just launched and are funded by HKICE (Hong Kong Institute of Continuing Education) - HKICE is reputable at least and Meephone contact numbers available on the website.

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

I will kindly ask 11:59 to stop 'helping' me because this person is doing quite the opposite.

I will wait for another email from that company because I asked them for more information.